Hawaii loses top spot in annual well-being poll

Gallup and Healthways released their annual well-being poll Wednesday and, for the first time in six years, Hawaii failed to claim the top spot.

That honor went to North Dakota, which ranked first in work environment and physical and overall health. Low unemployment was also a contributing factor, lending residents heightened financial security.

North Dakota’s southern sibling, South Dakota, came in second. In third place was Nebraska, followed by Minnesota and Montana respectively, rounding out the top five states.

Hawaii came in eighth place.

In last place was West Virginia, which has remained in the same position for five consecutive years.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index takes several factors into account: physical health, emotional well-being, work and social lives, community and financial stability. More than 176,000 people were surveyed last year.